Match-case.



B. BPSTEIN.

MATCH CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 28, 1909.

949 52 Patented Feb. 15.1910.

WITNESSES INVENTOR liameii ,Zfisic'w dag By 4 ATTORNEYS gNnREw a GRAHAM m. PHOYO-LITHOGRAFNERS. wasmuumn. n. c-

BARNETT EPSTEIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

MATCH-CASE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Application filed January 28, 1909. Serial No. 474,682.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARNETT EPSTEIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Match-Case, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to match cases, and particularly to such as are adapted to be carried in ones pocket. The device is intended especially to be used as a case for matches which are permanently attached to a cardboard sheet or holder, and which are adapted to be torn off one by one when used. These matches are attached at their lower edges to the lower edge of a flap or cardboard tongue, and this tongue projects in the direction in which the heads of the matches lie.

My invention provides special means for engaging this tongue and retaining the matches within the case.

The invention consists in the construction and combination of parts to be more fully described hereinafter and particularly set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective showing my match case and representing the same lying open so as to expose the matches in the holder; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the device closed; Fig. 3 is a cross section through the device closed, taken at right angles to the stems of the matches, this View being upon an enlarged scale; Fig. 4 is a plan showing the match case opened out with the match holder and matches removed and as though the case were lying flat upon a table; and Fig. 5 is an edge elevation of the match holder and matches.

Referring more particularly to the parts, 1 represents a match case, the body of which is formed of an elongated band or strip of leather or similar flimsy material. Near its middle portion, the side edges of this body are provided with upwardly disposed integral extensions or crimps 2, and these extensions or crimps are connected by a substantially rectangular plate 3, having crescents 4: cut in the end ed es thereof, as shown. The side edges 5 of this plate are provided with integral tongues 6, and these tongues are pomted. In attaching them to the side extensions or crimps 2, the plate 3 is laid so that its side edges project over the the body which projects beyond this sleeve at one end, forms a main flap or inside flap 7, and this flap is provided with a square or straight extremity 8. The projecting portion of the body at the other end of the sleeve forms an outside flap, or cover i'iap 9.

The matches and the match holder which are adapted to be carried in the device, are illustrated in Fig. 5. The match holder simply consists of a fiat tongue or plate 10, usually made of cardboard, which is folded at one edge so as to form a base flange 11 provided with an abrasive material 12 on the outer side thereof, to form a striker for the matches. The matches 13 have the butt ends of their stems glued or similarly attached to the inner side of the flange 11, and the stems of the matches all project parallel to each other and lie on the upper face of the plate or tongue 10. It should be understood therefore that the tongue is attached to the matches only at the butt ends of the stems so that a deep throat or gap 14 is formed between the bodies of the matches and the tongue.

In using the device, the tongue or plate 10 is slipped into the sleeve which is formed under the plate 3 so that the match holder is held in the case, as indicated in Fig. 1. In this connection it should be noted that the width of the sleeve should be such that the tongue will fit nicely within the same. The tongue is completely inserted in the sleeve so that the bodies of the matches lie upon the outer face of the plate 3. The inside flap 7 is then folded down over the bodies of the matches, and the outer flap 9 is folded over the free edge of the inner flap, and the two flaps are secured together by a snap fastening having a socket 15 in the outside gap and having a button 16 in the inside In using the matches, they are torn off in the usual manner, and struck on the abrasive material. After all the matches have been used, the holder is removed by drawing the tongue of the sleeve, and is thrown away and a fresh holder having a new supply of matches is introduced in the same manner as before.

Special attention is called to the relation between the plate and the flimsy material out of which the remainder of the case is formed. The plate being rigid maintains the form of the case when folded up and prevents the body of the case and its folding flaps from becoming creased or folded, except at the points where the flaps fold upon the body.

Having thus described myinvention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,-

1. A match case having a substantially rectangular rigid plate, a body of flimsy material attached to said plate at the side edges thereof, maintained extended by said plate and forming a retaining sleeve therewith, and a folding flap at one end of said body adapted to fold over said plate.

2. A match case having a substantially rectangular rigid plate, a body of flimsy material attached to said plate at the side edges maintained extended thereby and cooperating with said plate to form a retaining sleeve open at both ends and adapted to receive the tongue of the match holder, and a folding flap at one end of said body adapted to fold over said plate.

3. A match case having a substantially rectangular rigid plate, a body of flimsy material attached to said plate at the side edges thereof, said plate extending throughout substantially the entire length of said body and being unattached to said body at one end of said plate whereby said plate cooperates with said body to form an open sleeve adapted to receive the tongue of the match holder and folding flaps at the ends of said body adapted to fold over said plate, and means for fastening said flaps together.

4:. A match case having a substantially rectangular rigid plate, a body of flimsy material superposed upon said plate and attached to the side edges thereof, said body and said plate cooperating to form a retaining sleeve open at both ends and flaps integral with said body and folding over upon the face of said plate, and a fastening device for securing said flaps together.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

BARNETT EPSTEIN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM TAGA, SAUL L. KowAIsKY. 

